Does birth order or gender influence students’ attitude toward mathematics in junior secondary schools in eket akwa ibom state, nigeria?

Abstract

This study examined influence of birth order and gender on junior secondary school students’ attitude toward Mathematics in Eket southern Nigeria. Ex-post facto research design was used. A sample of 1000 students was selected by stratified, random sampling procedures. Data was collected with a structured Questionnaire; with a Cronbach Alpha reliability estimate of .77. One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Independent t- test were used for statistical test of the hypotheses at .05   level of significance. The result showed that first-borns had more positive attitude toward Mathematics than their other siblings (ANOVA: F= 16.096; p=0.000). Male students showed more positive attitude to Mathematics than their female counterpart (t=6.110; p=0.001). Study concluded that birth order and gender influenced students’ attitude to mathematics Eket Nigeria. It was recommended that Mathematics teaching and evaluation strategies should be gender-sensitive so as to minimize gender-related bias and inequity.